UPDATE: Tobago goats to be eliminated completely – Smith-Abbott
During an interview with this news site, Smith-Abbott said that he was aware of the issue surrounding the goats and concerns raised by residents of Jost Van Dyke.
According to Smith-Abbott, “The project has been an ongoing one over a long number of years and we anticipate having a meeting with the interested parties sometime in the upcoming period.”
He did not give an indication of a specific time for the expected meeting to take place.
When asked whether the residents were notified in any way of the proposed meeting, Smith Abbott replied that the NPT had communicated with interested parties on the matter and reiterated that there would be a meeting ‘in the very near future’ to address concerns.
Mr Smith-Abbott further acknowledged that it was anticipated at some point that the goats would be eliminated completely from the island but assured that whatever misconceptions or misunderstandings that may have arisen will be dealt with.
Concerns were raised once more by several residents during a recently held stakeholders meeting with the BVI Tourist Board about the removal of goats from the islands which are designated as national parks.
Residents complained that the goats on the islands had been hunted for years and felt that they were being kept in the dark about what was happening with the situation and whether they would be able to continue to hunt the goats.
See previous story posted February 16, 2013:
JVD residents upset at proposed goat reduction project
- Preservation Society source says project aimed at biodiversity conservation
GREAT HARBOUR, Jost Van Dyke, VI – Residents of Jost Van Dyke (JVD) are furious about a proposed project to reduce the goat population on the islands of Great Tobago and Little Tobago situated a few miles east of JVD.
One resident, Dean Callwood, expressed that the goats were on the islands for many years and residents and locals have been able to acquire fresh goat meat for sale or other purposes over the years.
“How could they make a decision like this for the people that live in the Virgin Islands without even checking with us?” Callwood asked. He felt that the Preservation Society established in JVD were “doing a lot of things” behind the locals backs and was disturbed about this.
Another resident felt that persons responsible for executing the project knew they were doing something wrong in not consulting with residents and were making attempts to keep the situation under wraps.
According to Greg Callwood, someone from the National Parks Trust in JVD said a study was conducted and it was discovered that goats were destroying vegetation on the islands of Great Tobago and Little Tobago. He added that there appeared to be some sort of collaboration between the Preservation Society and the National Parks Trust (NPT) to execute the project for some time.
He was concerned that there was no notification given to residents about the pending execution of the project.
A source affiliated with the JVD Preservation Society, who wished to remain unnamed because of not being authorised to offer an official comment on the issue, confirmed that goat control is part of a project being executed by the National Parks Trust.
The source added the Society works under the National Parks Trust and the project had been attempted several years ago.
With the goats, the source noted, “there is erosion… you lose a lot of your native vegetation and as you lose that vegetation you lose a lot of bio-diversity on [the] small islands.”
The source further stated that in the instance of Great Tobago, “that has contributed to significant damage to the magnificent bird colony there.” The same source added that the Great Tobago [bird] colony is of the five largest sea bird colonies in the Caribbean and was therefore a global treasure.
According to the source, the erosion that took place as a result of the expanding goat population also has an impact on the surrounding coral reef. “Once that dirt gets dumped into marine systems, it impacts fishermen too,” the source related.
The source suggested that there will probably be a public meeting at some point in the future before the project is executed but could not confirm details of this.
“But it’s one of those things where it doesn’t mean just because goats are being removed from the National Park, it doesn’t necessarily mean that any of the partners are against hunting goats, I wish more people hunted goats on Jost Van Dyke,” the source continued, “frankly, I think that would help to control the population a little bit more and I think it’s good healthy food…”
The source insisted that the lead partner on the project is the National Parks Trust which falls directly under the Ministry of Natural Resources.
With regard to persons keeping goats on the islands of Tobago, the source noted that it was ultimately the decision of the National Parks Trust on what conservation actions needed to be done.
“A lot of times people think that there should always be public consensus,” the source stated while adding that this was not always necessarily the case and in this instance, the National Parks Trust have professionals in conservation biology and made decisions based on the best information they have.
It is not always an easy issue to deal with, the source also added, but felt it deserved to be publicised. “People should be able to express their concerns and dialogue, and talking about things is how you reach better understanding."
Efforts to contact the Director of the National Parks Trust, Mr Joseph Smith-Abbot for a comment were unsuccessful.
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49 Responses to “UPDATE: Tobago goats to be eliminated completely – Smith-Abbott”
Revel in your ignorance, Joker, you have no argument other to turn this into a black/white issue.
Always remember the Native Americans and the Buffalo. When the animals were nearly extinct, the people was next-driven to near extinction and today many if not all are on reservations.
And with so many foreigners on JVD who has expressed similar ideas, let's hope the JVD people are not the next intended targets!
Keep aryo eyes on them four-horned foreign Kwapo's!!
$h1t happens
This is responsible control. I wish other islands were so concerned. This will allow JVD to continue to be an ecological draw for visitors and food is still available for residents. Now... what can we do about farming?
Again,the issue here is that we are all part of a bigger system. We can't close our eyes to the effects that goats have on the environment. Goats should be in pens,and taken care of. Do they even get water on a regular basis,because if not,then that's animal cruelty,and people being selfish,only caring about their own profit,and not even the well being of the goats,or the land which they inhabit.
To get to the bottom of a matter,you have to look to the people in charge. What does the preservation Society and the National Parks Trust have to gain from this? To me,they will see more tourism,due to a thriving bird population,and beautiful reefs. What do the Callwood brothers have to gain? Do they have goats? Are they so spiritually evolved that they are speaking out on behalf of the people of Jost Van Dyke,because they hold them so near and dear to their hearts? Or are they just lashing out at their father,Foxy Callwood,who created the Preservation Society? Do they hold a grudge against him because they feel that he loves his 'white',children,that he had for his wife of over 40 yrs? This is no secret,they tell it to anyone willing to listen!
Lets not turn this into a black and white issue,an us vs them issue. In order to solve problems,we need to observe facts,and THEN make a conclusion. We can't jump into an issue like this,and let emotions be the deciding factor in the end result!
I wonder last Dean or Greg went hunt goat on Tobago? It is B.V. Islanders who let culture BVI culture die...not the white man. maybe if theyd kept up goat hunting along instead of driving up and down in big cars all day, this wouldnt be the case.... and then JVD want government to do everything but bawl like a goat when they go and do a project like this. Thank you NPT an JVDPS, help protect "Nature's little secrets" and the BVI's reefs/fish.